Support for bedclothes



ug. 28, 1962 H UHL SUPPORT FOR BEDCLOTHES Filed Dec. 22, 1960 l HHuh. Z

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/3 7' Flo 4 ru I 'Huw /z FIGA ZI /l lmnnw. "mnh, F'G' 5 n l www '1w Arroz/VBG United States Patent O V3,050,747 SUPPORT FOR BEDCLGTHES Henrietta Uhl, 151 Sth Ave., New York, NKY. vFiled Dec. 22, 19:60, Ser. No. 77,571 9 Claims. (Cl. 5-319) accomplishing the purpose.v However, rnost Vof them are e quite complicated in the construction thereof and are inconvenient to use. Others which are less complicated have other defects such as the bulkiness of the device, the diilculty in adjusting the same to the bed and retaining them `in position; and theyalsohave the defect that they cannot be stored in a confined space when not in use.

The present invention is intended and adapted to overcome the diiiiculties and disadvantages inherent iin prior devices of the type described, it being among the objects thereof to provide a support for bed clothes which is simple in construction, inexpensive and effective in use.V

It is also among the objects of the present invention to provide a device of the character described, which can be easily and readily installed in a bed, which may readily be removed and which is adapted to be stored in a very small space and particularly in the bed itself.

In practicing the present invention, there is provided a strip of relatively stiff material, usually a plastic strip which has some flexibility, the length of the strip being about that of the width of the bed. The strip is`placed under the mattress at the foot of the bed and constitutes the base for the supporting elements. The supporting member is of relatively sti material and usually of a synthetic plastic having considerable elasticity and the length of which is greater than that of the strip. Means are provided whereby the ends of the sheet may be interlocked into the ends of the strip so that the supporting member assumes a bow shape. The bed clothes are supported by the bowed sheet to avoid pressure of the bed clothes on the feet of the occupant of the bed.

In a preferred form of the invention, the sheet is made in two parts, hinged or otherwise held together so that when not in use the parts of the sheet which now assume a flat form, may be folded together and the length of each piece being not greater than the width of the bed, the folded sheet may now be slipped under the mattress or under the bed spread without occupying any substantial amount of space and Without detracting from the appearance of the bed when it is made up.

The invention is more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing constituting a part thereof, and in which like reference characters indicate like parts, and wherein- FIG. 1 isA a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken through the strip constituting the base and showing the bowed sheet in position;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of said strip;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the sheet folded and ready for storage;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of one end of a sheet showing a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a View similar to FIG. 4 of a modified form of base, cooperating with the sheet of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a modified form of sheet wherein the hinge of FIG. 1 is replaced by a different mechanism, and

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a further modication of a strip or base memberand included in the present invention; e

' 3,5,747 Patented Aug. 28, 1962 Referring to the form of invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, there is provided a liat strip 1 of synthetic plastic material having openings 2 and '3 `adjacent the ends thereof. At'the inner edges of openings 2 and 3 areupstanding lips 5 '4 and 5, respectively. Strip 1 is placed under mattress 6 in order that it be held iirmly in position against accidental displacement. Lips 4 and 5 engagethe sides of the mattress whereby strip 1 is held rmly in position. Y The bowed element consists of a pair of sheets 7 and 8,

10 each of which is of a length greater than half the width of the bed. They are made Vof synthetic plastic material and they are joined together by a flexible fabric or other element 9 which is cemented to the adjacent ends of sheets 7 and '8 by cementingV or other suitable means. The extreme ends of the bowedy element so formed are provided with tongues 10 and 11, respectively, the length* of the tongues being such as to enable them to pass through openings 2 and 3 to engage the underside of stripl 1". Lips 4 and 5 retain the bowed element in position.

When the device is not in use, the endsof sheets and 8 are withdrawn from openings 2 andV 3 whereby they straighten or Hatten out and the sheets are folded together about hinge 9, as shown in FIG. 3.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, base 1' is provided with an opening 2' at each end and sheet 7 is provided with a tongue 12 of a width approximately equal to the Width of opening 2', so that shoulder 13 will act as a stop against the possbility of sheet 7' being inserted too far into strip 1'. The Y corresponding end of the other sheet (not shown) is sirnilarly provided With a -tongue and shoulder for the same purpose.

With reference to FIG. 6, the hinge 9 of FIG. l may be replaced by other means. Sheets 7 and 8 are provided with tongues 10 and 11 similar to tongues 10 and 11 of FIG. 1. One of the sheets 7 is provided with a tongue 14 at the end adjacent to sheet 8', the latter having an opening 15 into which tongue 14 is inserted. In use the tongueis inserted into the opening and the ends of sheets 7' and 8 are introduced into openings 2 and 3 with tongues 10 and 11 fitting against the underside of strip 1.

or the like 20 has its ends attached by suitable means as by the pins or the like, to the inner ends of strips 16 and 17. In this form of the invention, the storage of the de' vice is' simplified in that strips 16 and 17 may be stored alongside of each other or on top of each other in a smaller space than strip 1.

Although the invention has been described setting forth several specific embodiments thereof, the invention is not to be limited thereby as the several forms have been described for the purpose of indicating a considerable nurnber of variations which may be made within the scope of the invention. For instance, sheets 7 and 8 may be replaced by a single sheet of synthetic plastic material. The lips 4 and 5 or tongues-or anges 10 and 11 may be omitted, if desired. Any suitable materials of construction may be used such as metal, ibrous material and others, provided that they have the characteristics necessary for accomplishing the results set forth above. The ends of sheets 7 or 8 may be notched so that the pressure of said ends on strip 1 will hold the sheets firmly.

The invention is not limited to use at the foot only of the bed. It may `be placed any where under the mattress or under the bedspring to cover any part of the body. In the case of a patient suffering from injury to various parts of the body, such as severe burns, several of the supports may be used; in some instances the invention may lold the bed clothes from contact with any part of the i These and other changes inthe details may be made 'within the spirit of the invention, which is to be broadly construed and not to he limited except by the character of the claims appendedhereto.Y Y Irclafm: Y

v l'. A support for bed clothes adaptedrto be associated with themattress of a bed comprising an elongated strip 'of relatively stiff material of a length about equal to the Width of said bed and constituting a base,` an elongated sheet of relatively stii'r' and flexible material of a length greater than that 'of said strip and constituting a bow, said v sheetv being separate from said strip, cooperating means at the respective ends of said strip and sheet for `detachably anchoring the endsof saidsheet to holdy said sheet 'Yin howedposition.y

4. A s'upport'accordingto claim 2 characterized that v the inner edges of said opening have upstanding. lips adapt ed to becontacted by said sheet.

5. A support according to claim 2 characterized'rin that` the width of said openings vis less than the Width ofthe ends of said sheet, and tongues on said ends kiii: into said openings.

j 6. A support accordigto claim 1 characterized inthat said base has the ends thereof of said stifffnraterialjand a flexible element connecting the inner faces :of said ends. f

7. A supportaccording toclaim 1 characterized inthat said sheet is divided into two parts at a central area,l and t y means for .joining them 'are provided.

8. A support according tol c'lairn-1'characterizedrrthat` Y said sheet isV divided into two parts'at a'central area? and v y a tape hinge Yforfjoiningv them.V are` provided.

y 9.` A support'accordingto clairnl characterized in that; .said sheet is'divided into two parts at a central area, and] .interlocking velementsv on the inner facesrofrsaidv partsfor c' Vjoining them arprovided; i

v Referencesited in theftile of `this patent vos Apr. miette 2,598,295 Y P61101] Y Y `May 271.1952 2,611,139 .Y ncnund v sept. 23,1952 

